This love of rules and the paperwork to enforce them is estimated to cost Australia $249 billion a year, while in the US the figure is closer to $4 trillion. The idea is to use artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate as many of these processes as possible and in doing so capture a slice of what is a giant and growing global market.

For Mr Turner, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur turned data evangelist, the challenge for Australia is to channel its limited research dollars into areas where we already have a competitive advantage.

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Making rules and ensuring people comply with them is apparently one of eight areas where Australia has already developed a digital advantage.

The other areas identified include digital responses to healthcare, agriculture, mining, urban planning, supply chain integrity and the security of critical infrastructure.

Mr Turner and his team at Data61, which boasts 300 PhD students in house and collaboration with 30 universities, want to build on this by developing a national strategy around these eight targeted areas.

As the data science arm of Australia's top research agency it will then co-ordinate how different parts of the technologies are developed through university research and industry collaboration.

"We need to get organised around national-scale research and development and stop being so fragmented," he said.

"We are never going to compete with other countries in terms of dollars spent so we have to be more focused."

Wide collaboration

Mr Turner will launch this strategy at Data61's annual conference in Brisbane on Tuesday, with economic modelling contributed by consulting firm alphaBeta.

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The modelling estimates there is a $315 billion opportunity for Australia in these areas over the next decade.

In each area Mr Turner likens the challenge to that of developing a space program, which requires collaboration across a wide range of scientific and engineering fields.

He cites the example of supply chain integrity, one of the eight areas identified in the report, noting 36 different work streams need to be established across a broad range of disciplines.

The problem which needs to be solved in this area is how Australia's high-value food products are not contaminated or counterfeited on their way to markets around the world.

"This will involve physical security being integrated with technology like blockchain and a heavy reliance on data," Mr Turner said.

He has pulled together this national strategy in his two years running Data61 and said maintaining Australia's high standard of living depends on getting the transition to a digital economy right.

"We need to find new ways to lift productivity and identify new sources for export competitiveness in order to secure Australia's future prosperity," he said.

"We can't just rely on what has made us successful in the past. Australia needs to get organised to build digital exports."

Angus Grigg writes on news, specialising in Asia, the world and trade. Angus is a two-time Walkey Award winner with more than 15 years experience. Connect with Angus on Twitter. Email Angus at agrigg@afr.com.au